Yesterday, March 26, was #StopAsianHate Day. To my White friends in particular, I offer two things I’m reflecting on:

1/ This article in which, among other Asian-American voices, my trusted college friend Sumalee Montano shared her experience: “In her Los Angeles neighborhood a few weeks ago, an unmasked woman breathed in Montano’s face, then leaned into her 8-year-old son’s face and said in a snide tone, ‘Oh, aren’t you cute?’.”

2/ My own feelings of shock and horror about these stories, because I just would never have imagined that people would treat her or anyone this way… and that’s a problem. I used to think it made me a “good person” who was purer of heart and therefore better qualified to lead. Now I am realizing, I may indeed be a good person, but “I have zero expertise in this topic” is not otherwise generally regarded as a leadership recommendation. What I *do* have is power, privilege, and experience in many other things (in my case, such as fundraising and relationship building with White people) which I can place in service of those who are leading from a lifetime of learning what I’ve never had to see.

Onwards, friends.